[ellasmom88]

I was adopted in 1992 by my dad and I am trying to find my bio dad... but I was told that my mom had to run an add the news paper for a length of time before he could adopt me... Is this true if so did they have to put his name?? If so maybe I can find him... his name I don't believe was on the birth certificate.

[Synnen]

It depends on how they notified him of the intent to adopt. They may have just called him and said "hey, can her step-dad adopt her?"

Are you unable to ask your mother for information?

[ellasmom88]

She says she doesn't remember his name.knows his first but not last.

[Synnen]

She should have received adoption paperwork from the courts that named all parties involved. In most places you do not have the right to request that paperwork, but SHE does. She should be able to make a request through the courts in the county the adoption took place in.

A caveat to this: I placed my daughter for adoption in 1992. I have copies of the court paperwork regarding the relinquishment, but I do NOT have copies of the adoption paperwork---because it was legally none of my business at that point. However, that was a full adoption, not a step parent adoption. Because your mother retained her parental rights through both processes, she should be able to request copies of the paperwork from the courts.

Is it possible that your mother is just stonewalling your search for some reason?

[Fr_Chuck]

Adoption laws change all the time, the adoption is not done in the news paper, but legal notification is. It is also common for the women not to know the mans real name or full name, so often only the child's name is listed and that the father needs to come forward.

So it is very possible that his name was not in the paper.
But you can go to the newspaper (after you are 18) and do a search of old papers and find the information. Also your mother has received a full document of the adoption if she wants to share it with you.

It is likely she really does not know his name, and/or she is trying to protect you from a man who was very bad at the time

[ellasmom88]

She should have received adoption paperwork from the courts that named all parties involved. In most places you do not have the right to request that paperwork, but SHE does. She should be able to make a request through the courts in the county the adoption took place in.

A caveat to this: I placed my daughter for adoption in 1992. I have copies of the court paperwork regarding the relinquishment, but I do NOT have copies of the adoption paperwork---because it was legally none of my business at that point. However, that was a full adoption, not a step parent adoption. Because your mother retained her parental rights through both processes, she should be able to request copies of the paperwork from the courts.

Is it possible that your mother is just stonewalling your search for some reason?

yeah she could be but I am 25!! And I just want to know... you know... its a peace of me that I don't know.

[ellasmom88]

Adoption laws change all the time, the adoption is not done in the news paper, but legal notification is. It is also common for the women not to know the mans real name or full name, so often only the childs name is listed and that the father needs to come forward.

So it is very possible that his name was not in the paper.
But you can go to the newspaper (after you are 18) and do a search of old papers and find the information. also your mother has recieved a full document of the adoption if she wants to share it with you.

it is likely she really does not know his name, and/or she is trying to protect you from a man who was very bad at the time

True but I am 25 and people do change I just want to know don't even want to meet him just to know. For me.

[ScottGem]

If, in fact, your bio dad's whereabouts were unknown at the time your dad was petitioning to adopt, they might have posted an ad somewhere in an attempt to notify him. That ad would contain info they knew about him. So if you know the paper where the ad was run, you may be able to get a copy of it.

[Synnen]

Unfortunately, you have limited options for searching.

You can go on reunion websites to see if he is also looking for you.

You can get people who knew your mother at the time to give you the information.

You can hire a licensed private investigator.

Adoption privacy laws protect the identities of birth parents, sometimes with very good reason. Your best bet, really, is to try to get your mother to remember or to have her get the adoption paperwork.